A PROBATIONARY policeman who was stabbed by a burglar wielding a crowbar is today fighting for his life in hospital.

PC Peter Doherty, 34, was attacked last night in Bedworth after becoming separated from other officers as he pursued a gang fleeing from a newsagent's.

The officer, a veteran of the first Gulf War, is said to be in a critical but stable condition at the George Eliot Hospital in Nuneaton, where his girlfriend is at his bedside.

PC Doherty, whose condition is said to be life-threatening, is thought to have been stabbed with the shaft of a crowbar.

Speaking at a press conference, Detective Superintendent Ken Lawrence revealed that the officer had undergone surgery to remove his spleen.

"At first it was suggested it was the hook end of the crowbar (which was used), but I am fairly confident now that it was, in fact, the long, shaft end of the crowbar that was used," Mr Lawrence said.

The injured officer, who originates from Nuneaton, was stabbed in Marner Road late last night after a burglary at a newsagent's in nearby Mount Pleasant Road.

Mr Lawrence confirmed that four males had been arrested in the early hours of this morning in the Wood End area of Coventry in connection with the incident, which is being treated as attempted murder.

"He has stated that he always wanted to be a police officer", Mr Lawrence said of the victim.

"I would like to say at this point that he has responded to a fairly routine call late at night in a very courageous manner.

"As a consequence, he suffered serious injury doing that duty.

"It was just after 11.35pm last night when the police received a call from a member of the public to say that there was a burglary ongoing," the senior officer continued.

It was clear, Mr Lawrence said, that the injured officer and several colleagues had disturbed a number of offenders.

"In pursuing the offenders, the injured officer confronted a number of them and in so doing received a single stab wound, which was delivered from a crowbar.

"This was witnessed by a member of the public who saw the officer fall to the ground, saw the offenders run away and offered some assistance to the injured officer."

The offenders are known to have fled the scene in a stolen Lexus car which was followed to the Coventry area by police vehicles and a police helicopter.

"As a consequence of that, three people were arrested, and since then a fourth person has been arrested," Mr Lawrence said.

A team of 40 officers is now working on the inquiry and a major incident room has been set up.

Detectives believe that more than four men were involved in the burglary, although it is unclear how many of them were involved in the stabbing.

"The officer suffered a very serious injury and has undergone surgery overnight.

"He's still in a very serious condition," Mr Lawrence went on.

Pointing towards the left side of his chest to indicate where the officer had been stabbed, Mr Lawrence added: "I believe it was the shaft end of the crowbar which was used and it's gone several inches into his chest.

"He has had his spleen removed and suffered some very, very serious internal injuries.

"His condition is critical, but I am crossing my fingers. It potentially still is a life-threatening injury."